Coin controlled refrigerating mechanism



Dec. 6, 1938. H, R. SMITH 2,139,523

COIN CONTROLLED REFRIGERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 2, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 6, 1938. H. R. SMITH 2,139,523

COIN CONTROLLED REFRIGERATING ME CHAN ISM Filed Aug. 2, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 2 III"HHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllIIIIll|lIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I l ll Dec.6, 1938. H. R. SMITH COIN CONTROLLED REFHIGERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug.2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE COIN CONTROLLED REFBIGERATING MECHANISM Application August 2,1930, Serial No. 472,699

20 Claims. (Cl. 194-9) This invention relates to automatic control meansfor refrigerators and has for its particular object the provision of acoin operated mechanism which will control a refrigerator in aneflicient and reliable manner for home use.

It also has for its object the provision for such a mechanism which maybe loaded with a number of coins and will operate automatically inaccordance with the natural requirements of refrigeration for theduration of time which the coins deposited represent.

It has for a further object the provision of such a mechanism which willpermit a variation in run ning time for a given coin deposited inaccordance with the operating expense and capacity of the refrigeratorand which will operate reliably and continuously over a long period oftime.

The provision of a coin device which is particularly adaptable to theneeds of such service is another feature of my invention.

As a further object, it provides for such amechanism as will befool-proof, serviceable and incapable of unauthorized adjustment. Withthis and other objects in view the invention consists in thecombination, correlation and construction of parts, members and featureswhich will be described in the specification and will be finally pointedout in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an illustration of a refrigerator in which my invention hasbeen embodied. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the basic operatingelements of a portion of my invention. Figure 3 isa fragmentary sectionon line 3-3, Figure 1 with diagrammatic showing of other parts of theinvention. Figure 4 is a fragmentary section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.Figure 5 is asection on line 5-5 of Figure 4, parts being broken awayfor clearness of illustrations.

Figure dis a section on line 6-6 of Figure 4. Figure '7 is a section online 1-1 of Figure 5. Figure 8 is a detailed diagrammatic view of theapplication of my invention to a gas operated refrigerator.

Referring to Figures 1 to 8 inclusive:

i5 illustrates a refrigerator case a section i6 of which is adapted tohouse the power and refrigerating unit and the automatic controlmechanism. The former may consist of prime mover H, a compressor I8, acooling coil 19, expansion chamber 20 and refrigerating coils 2|connected in the usual manner. In the drawings the prime mover H is anelectric motor controlled by a thermostatic switch 22, sensitive to thevariations in the temperature within the refrigerator, controlling thesupply of electric current to it in accordance with the requirementsthereof.

A coin controlled switch 23 connects the feed wires 24 and 25 through atransformer 26 to a magnet 21, comprising a portion'oi' a relay 23. 5The relay 28 comprises a two pole switch 29 connected to the feed wires24 and 25 and adapted to connect these wires with wires 30 and 3|respectively, leading through wires 30a and 3M to the prime mover andthrough wires 3% and 3th 10 to a timing device or clock 32a adapted tooperate the switch 32. The clock 32a is thus connected in parallel withthe prime mover, ii.

The thermostatic switch 22 is interposed in either one of the lines 30aor 3|a. The armal5 ture 33 of the relay 28 is adapted to be operated bythe magnet 21 and an opposed magnet 34 and is linked to a bar 35 pivotedat 33 which is retained in either of its extreme positions by a spring31 fastened at a point 33 located on the. W bisector of the angle ofthrow of the bar 35 beyond the pivot at 36.

The magnet 34 is connected in series with the clock-operated switch 32and in parallel with the magnet 21. The clock operated switch 32 com- 23prises a brush 39 operating upon a slip-ring 40 with which is connecteda contact arm 4| which intermittently is adapted to make contact withcontact strip 42.

The general operating scheme of this portion 30 of the mechanism may bedescribed as follows:

A coin 43 dropped through an appropriate mechanism actuates the switch23 to energize the magnet 21 from the feed wires 24 and 25. The armature33 is thus pulled towards the magnet 85 21 closing the switch and thusconnecting the wires 24 and 25 with the wires 30 and 3! respectively,energizing the prime mover I! through the thermostatic switch 22 andlikewise the clock 32a which serves to actuate the clock operated switch40 32. After a predetermined period of operation rotation of the contactarm 4| brings it in contact with the contact strip 42 to close a circuitfrom the feed wires 24 and 25 and the transformer 23 through the magnet34 to pull the ar- 45 mature 33 in a direction to break the switch 28,breaking the contact between the feed wires 24 and 25, and the primemover ll of the refrigerating unit.

Means for delivering a coin to the coin controlled switch 23 isinterconnected with the clock actuated switch 32 in a manner notillustrated in Figure 2, but which is shown in the details of the otherfigures and which will now be described:

An opening is provided at 44 in the refrigerator casing for thereception of a coin of preselected denomination. Below this opening acoin. delivery and carrier disc 45, mounted upon a rotatably mountedshaft 56, is provided with a pair of coin receiving recesses ii, at 180degree positions. One of these recesses is normally positioned justbelow the opening 84, the other just above the coin operated switch 23.The coin drops into the first recess by gravity and discharges from italso by gravity upon reaching its opposite position. A shield at mountedupon the frame 39 retains the coin in the carrier disc until it reachesthe switch 23.

Upon the shield is mounted a spring detent ti the point 5! of whichpasses through an opening 52 in the shield as and is adapted to enterdepressions 53 on the face of the carrier disc 55 when the disc is incoin receiving position. The entering face of the depression is taperedoutward so that the disc may be turned in the direction shown by thearrow The slanted rear face of the detent permits reverse motion of thedisc. The detent is held toward the disc by a spring 5? and acts toassure accurate posi tioning oi the carrier disc.

Suitable safety and protective devices may be introduced to insureagainst fraudulent operation of the coin device. The shield dd providedwith a discharge chute 58 at the bottom, to which the coin is deliveredand through which it drops by gravity to the switch 23. Intermediate thechute 58 and the switch 23 may be interposed devices for testing thecoin in various ways: by weight, magnetically; by contour, byelasticity, by size, thickness and diameter, as well as by devices toeject spurious co ns and other unauthorized coins or material, to theend, that none but the proper type and denomination of coin will reachthe switch 23 for the operation thereof.

These devices in themselves are well known in the art and areillustrated only in general by the provision of a weight testing deviceforming a part of the switch 23. The coin drops from the chute 58 intoone end of a troughed lever 59 pivoted at 60 to the frame. The oppositeend of this lever carries a weight 8| for partially balancing the coinand a contactor 62. If the coin is sufficiently heavy it willoverbalance the weight 6|, tilt the troughed end of the lever downward,and thus raise the contactor 62 to force the switch spring 63 againstthe contact 84 and close the circuit through the magnet 21.

To set the clock operated switch 32 the coin carrier disc 45 carries twopawls 65 pivoted thereto as at 66 at 180 degrees apart. These pawlsco-operate with a ratchet 81 rotatably mounted concentric with the disc45 on a bushing 880 through which the shaft 46 passes. The bushing iscarried in an extension 88 of the frame 49. A portion of the teeth onthe periphery of the ratchet is protected by a shield 88 adjustablymounted concentric with the ratchet on the hub 10 of the extension 88 towhich it is locked with a set screw H. Each of the pawls 85 is providedwith a spring I2 fastened thereto and provided with an end 13 adapted toco-operate with the inside face 14 of the shield 48, and the ends 15 and18 thereof which serve as cams to urge the pawls 65 resiliently throughthe springs 12 toward the shield 69 and the ratchet 61, during a portionof the revolution of the coin carrier disc, and to release themrespectively.

Fastened to the ratchet 81 is a gear TI which meshes with another gear18 mounted for free rotation upon a screw shaft 19. One member es of atoothed clutch is attached to the gear 38 and is rotatable therewith.The screw shaft it extends through bearings a and ill and through aclutch sleeve 82 to which it is slidingly keyed by key 83. The clutchsleeve 82 is journaled at 8-6 in the frame extension 38 and carries atoothed clutch member 85 for co-operation with the memher 8%. At theother end sleevefiZ is provided with a similar toothed member 86, forco-operation with a toothed clutch member 8i which is attached to a gearas and also mounted with the gear for free rotation upon the screw shaftl9. Intermediate the clutch members 85 and 86 the clutch sleeve 82 isprovided with a pair of spaced opposed collars 88 for the reception of ashifter yoke 9d. The yoke is pivoted at $36 on the frame extension 62and is of the form of a bell crank having an arm d2 carrying a roller 93for co'=- operation with a cam 96 on the shaft 3%. An other arm carriesa switch contact 86 to comtact with a stationary contact on the andcomprising the switch d3. A tension spina holds the roller alwaysagainst the cam.

The bearings 86a and 85 are portions of bracket extension 89 of theframe 49. Between them the screw-shaft i9 is threaded for the re ceptionof a nut :56. This nut is guided and prevented from rotating by guiderods till aihxed to the frame and passing through bores in the nut. Thenut carries a contact arm m2 which carries the contact strip 62.

The timing device or clock 32a has a gear Hi3 attached to itsdrive-shaft E84, which meshes with the gear 38. The slip-ring 60 is alsoattached to the clock shaft 04 and is energized by the brush 39 andconnected to the rotating contact arm 4|,

Operation is as follows: A coin of the proper denomination is insertedat the opening 4 and the knob I85, attached to the carrier disc 45 andshaft 48 (Fig. 3), is rotated as shown by the arrow I 08 (Fig. 1). Thisrotates the disc 45 and the pawls pivoted thereto as shown by the arrow55 (Figs. 5 and 6). The shield 89 is so adjusted that a certain periodof lost motion takes place prior to the upper pawl 85 striking theratchet 61, as illustrated in Fig. 6. This lost motion may be adjustedto give variable travel to the ratchet 81 corresponding to theprescribed motion of the coin carrier disc 45.

During this lost motion period the cam 94 also rotates and the spring88a pulls the clutch yoke 80 downward as viewed in Fig. 3 meshing clutchmembers 80 and 85 and releasing members 88 and 81, thus clutching gearI8 to the screw-shaft 19 and releasing gear 88 therefrom. This movementof the yoke 80 pulls the contacts 88 and 81 apart, opening the switch 98and disconnecting the power from the motor l1, thus stopping therefrigeration during the operation of inserting a coin. This is toprevent the holding of the clutch open between the gear 88 andscrew-shaft 19 by a partial rotation of the knob and consequentoperation of the refrigerator without corresponding operation of theclock-operated switch driven by gear 88.

After the pawl 65 drops over the shield 89 and meshes with the ratchet81, the ratchet 61, gears spring 1-2 on the pawl which has been drivinthe ratchet drops oil the end I6 of the shield 48, releasing thepressure on the pawl and permits it to drop by gravity against the pinI01. At the same point the detent 58 drops into the depression 53. Atthis point also the cam 84 again forces roller 93 to the left as viewedin Fig. 3, disengaging clutch members and and engaging members 85 and 81to connect gear 88 to the screw-shaft 19. The switch 881s also closed bythe yoke movement so that the coin, when it drops through the chute andtrips the switch 23, is efiective to start the operation of therefrigerator and timing device as described previously.

As gear 88 is now connected to the shaft It and the rotation of theclock-drive shaft I04 and gear I03 are as shown by the arrows I08 inFig. 5 the screw-shaft 19 is turned in the opposite direction to that ofits motion due to the turning of the knob Hi5 and the nut is moveddownward in Fig. 3 so that contact 42 approaches the path of rotatingcontact 4I. 0n contact of H and 42 the refrigerating mechanism isstopped by breaking the circuit to the motor through relay 28, aspreviously described.

It will be seen that coins may be inserted at any time whether themachine is operating or not and that each coin inserted will cause thenut I00 and contact 42 to be moved a definite distance further along thescrew-shaft I9 up to the limit of its length, and that a correspondinglylengthened time period will elapse before the motor is shut off. g

.It will further be noticed that the last coin passing through anytesting devices interposed between the chute 58 and the switch 23finally starts the motor. Suitable devices well known in the art may beinterposed whereby spurious coins will lock the mechanism againstoperation, such as a spurious coin operated relay similar to thecombination of switch 23 and relay 28 operating a main switch.

After passing throughthe switch 23 the coins may be received in anysuitable lock box, such as I09.

In case a coin is not inserted the detent 50 will drop into the opencoin recess 41 and strike the side 41a thereof stopping further rotationof the disc 45. This will likewise be the case if the coin is too thinor of too small diameter. The face 56 permits return of the disc for thecorrect insertion. The amount of motion thus allowed is not sufficientto carry the pawls 85 beyond the shield 89 so no motion of the gearingoccurs.

The spring pressure on the pawls is sufiicient to carry the ratchet bothbackwards and forwards so that it is impossible to ratchet the turningdevice forward by oscillating the knob I05 with a coin in place at apoint beyond the shield.

In Fig. 8 is shown another application of my invention to a gas operatedrefrigerator. In this case an exactly similar coin mechanism is used.The coin switch is connected to the wires 23a and 23b in the same manneras shown and described for Fig. 2. Magnets 21 and 34 operate armature 33to effect operation of switch Ill which is similar to switch 28 with theexception that it is a double throw switch.

One side makes connections between wires 24 and 30 and 25 and 3|. Thesewires serve the same type of circuit as before described, supplyingpower to the timing mechanism 32 and motor III. This motor has a pinionII2 to drive a gear II3 for operation of a rotary valve II4-controllingflow of the gas, which in this case is the source of power, throughthe-supply pipe II5.

The thermostatic switch H6 for automatic control is connected in theline 8Ia and operates between contacts III and H8 connected to contacts8 and I20 respectively. A switch bar I2I operates between the contactsH9 and I20. It likewise carries a bar I22 insulated from it forconnecting two contacts I23 and I24 feeding lines I25 and I26respectively. Bar IN is energized by a wire I2Ia connecting it to lineI25 which forms part of the circuit through the motor III. A cam IN ismounted on the control shaft I23 oi the valve H4 and actuates the switchbar I. This bar is of spring construction and is resiliently detained inits two positions by detents I29 and m to give it a snap-over" action.Line I26 forms one point of the other side of switch III! at contact iiiand the other point I82 is connected to line 30.

Operation is as follows: The switch is shown in the stopped" position.Coin insertion energizes the magnet 21, throws switch IIII to the" leftenergizing lines 30 and 3|, 38a and 3Ia and 80b and 3 Ib and starts thetiming device 82a. Lines I 25 through the motor and the line IBM andswitch bar I2I are also energized. In the position of the bar I2I shown,the contact H9 becomes live and I" connected therewith. As therefrigerator warms up switch I I6 will contact at I it completing thecircuit and starting the motor III which through its gearing actuatesthe valve Iii. After a quarter revolution which opens the valve thepressure. of the cam I27 is sufliciently relieved to allow the spring ofthe bar iii to overcome detent I29 and snap over energizing contactsI2I'I and connecting I23 and I24. Operation of thermostatic switch II6will then alternately open and close the valve II4 by controlling thecircuit through the motor III until the timing device energizes themagnet 84 as previously described. Then if switch H8 is down (as shown)no action takes place. If it is raised against contact II! in responseto temperature rise in the refrigerator, the circuit is complete throughcontacts I3I and lines 38, I25 and I26 to I32 through the motor IIIwhich will operate until the valve is closed.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In combination with an electrically operated mechanism and a sourceof current supply, controlling mechanism therefor including: a tim ingdevice, a switch member rotated by said timing device, a second switchmember adapted to be moved into and away from operative relation withsaid first switch member, means for positioning said second switchmember, connecting mechanism associated with said timing device and saidsecond switch member adapted to move said second switch member intooperative relation with said first switch member, electrical contactscontrolled by said switch member, a connection to the electricallyoperated mechanism and the source of current supply, whereby closing ofsaid contacts will control said mechanism, and coin actuated mechanisminitiating the operation of said controlling mechanism responsive to thedepositing of a coin therein.

2. A device as described in claim 1 in which the positioning meansincludes a rotatable member, and means for translating rotary motion ofsaid member to linear motion of one of said switch members.

3. An automatic operating device for a power operated refrigerationmechanism including a coin actuated switch, means for delivering a coin15 to said switch, a source of power, means for controlling said sourceof power connected to said switch, a timing device, a pair of secondaryswitch members adapted to control said source oi power and actuated bysaid timing device, and a clutch mechanism cooperative with said coindelivery means whereby one of the secondary switch members is connectedto said coin delivery means and adapted to be positioned by operationthereof.

4. Coin control means including a source of power, a motor, a coindelivering means, a switch operable by a coin delivered by thedelivering means, a timing device, a second switch, mechanism operatedby said coin delivery means for setting said second switch, meansoperable by said timing device for closing said second switch, andelectrical connections between said switches, the source of power andthe motor.

5. A coin control means as described in claim 4 including a clutchinterposed between said timing device and said coin delivery means, and

means cooperative with said coin delivery means to actuate said clutch.

6. A coin control means as described in claim 4 including a ratchetdevice interposed between said setting mechanism and said coin deliverymeans, a clutch interposed between said timing device and said coindelivery means, and means cooperative with said coin delivery means toactuate said clutch and ratchet device.

7. A coin controlled refrigeration mechanism including a source ofenergy, energy transforming means adapted to utilize such energy, coinoperated means, master control means actuated thereby for controllingsaid energy supply, a time operated mechanism, means connecting themaster control means therewith whereby said energy supply is shut oif ata predetermined time period, means for varying said time period, andsaid last-named means, including a setting mechanism adapted to set saidtime operated mechanism for varying the shutting of! of said energysupply by predetermined time intervals operable upon each deposit of acoin for delivery to said coin operated means- 8. A device as describedin claim 7 in which said setting mechanism includes a'rotary member anda switch contact positioned thereby.

9. A coin control refrigeration mechanism including a source of energy,energy transforming means adapted to utilize such energy, coin operatedmeans, master control means actuated thereby for controlling said energysupply, said master control means including two co-operative mechanisms,a time operated mechanism, means connected with said time operatedmechanism for actuating one of said cooperative mechanisms at apredetermined time, a setting device operatively connected with theother of said cooperative mechanisms for setting thereby to vary suchtime of actuation of said first mechanism whereby the time of operationof said control -means is dependent upon the relation of said thereby,an auxiliary switch actuated by said rotatable member, electromagneticmeans controlled by said auxiliary switch to actuate said opening means,and setting mechanism associated with said coin actuated means and saidautomatic opening means, operable to vary the time of opening of saidswitch by said opening means upon the depositing of additional coins insaid coin actuated means.

11. In combination, a power operated mechanism provided with an electricmotor, and a source of power, coin operated controlling mechanismgoverning the supply of energy from said source of power to said motor,including a switch, an electrically operating timing device controlledby said switch, coin actuated means for closing said switch, means forautomatically opening said switch, connected with said timing device forregulation thereby, andsetting mechanism associated with said coinactuated means and said automatic opening means, operable to vary thetime of opening of said switch by said opening means upon the depositingof additional coins in said coin actuated means.

12. A coin operated device including a main switch, a solenoid formoving the switch in one direction, a coin controlled switch means forcontrolling the energization of the solenoid, a second solenoid formoving the main switch in an opposite direction, and a time controlledswitch means for energizing the second solenoid including a set ofswitch contacts, means responsive to the delivery of a coin for movingone of the contacts away from the other contact, and means responsive tothe passage oi time for moving one of the contacts toward the other.

13. A coin operated device including a main switch, electromagneticmeans for opening and closing the main switch, a time controlled switchmeans for controlling the energi'zation oi the electromagnetic means toopen the main switch, said time controlled switch means including a setof switch contacts, coin controlled means for moving one of the contactsaway from the other and for controlling the energization of theelectromagnet means to close the main switch, and time controlled meansfor moving the switch contacts closer together.

14. In electrical refrigeration apparatus, the combination, with acompressor motor, of a timing motor, means automatically actuated byinsertion of a coin for conditioning the circuit for starting bothmotors at the same time, means for shutting 011 both motors at the sametime after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and means forshutting oi! the compressor motor before the end of such period withoutshutting off the timing motor.

15. In electrical refrigeration apparatus, an electric circuit, acompressor motor in the circuit, a timing motor in the circuit inparallel with the compressor motor, a main switch in the circuit inseries with both motors, a solenoid in the circuit in parallel with themain switch, means for causing the timing motor to open the main switchafter a predetermined period of time has elapsed, means for causing thesolenoid to close the main switch when energized, and a coin-controlledswitch in the circuit in series with the solenoid for energizing thelatter to close the main switch and place the apparatus in operation.

16. In electrical refrigeration apparatus, an electric circuit, acompressor motor in the cir cuit, a timing motor in the circuit inparallel with the compressor motor, a main switch in the circuit whichis adapted to be opened by the timing motor after a predetermined periodof time has elapsed, which switch is connected in series with bothmotors, a solenoid which is adapted to close the main switch, and acoin-operated switch which is adapted to close the circuit of thesolenoid when operated.

17. In electrical refrigeration apparatus, an electrical energy supplycircuit, a compressor motor energized from the supply circuit, timingmeans including a constant speed electric motor for controlling the timeperiod of operation of the apparatus, coin-actuated means variablycontrolling the operating period of the timing means in accordance withthe number of coins successively employed, and a main switch operativelyconnected with the timing means for simultaneously controlling operationof the compressor and timing motors.

18. In electrical refrigerating apparatus, an electrical energy supplycircuit, timing means automatically actuated by insertion of a coin andincluding a constant speed electric motor energized from said circuitfor controlling the time period of operation of the apparatus, acompressor motor energized from said circuit, a main switch associatedwith the timing means for controlling simultaneously the electricalenergy supply to the compressor and timing motors, and a separate switchfor automatically controlling in response to refrigeration requirementsoperation of the compressor motor independently of the timing means.

19. In a coin operated device adapted for immediate successive receptionof a plurality of coins, a constant speed motor, a switch forcontrolling an electric circuit, switch operating means comprising amember movable in opposite directions into positions respectivelyeffective for causing opening of said switch and enabling closing ofsaid switch and maintaining it closed, a. shaft rotatable in oppositedirections and having driving connection to said member efiective formoving the latterv in opposite directions, drive means normallyproviding driving connection between said motor and said shaft forcontinuously driving the latter in one direction for moving said membertoward switch opening position, and means supplementary to said drivemeans comprising pawl and ratchet setting means actuated responsive toinsertion oia coin and having operative connection to said drive meansfor momentarily disabling said 'driving connection and rotating saidshaft in the opposite direction a predetermined distance for eachsuccessively inserted coin.

20. In a coin operated device adapted for immediate successive receptionof a plurality of coins, a constant speed motor, a switch forcontrolling an electric circuit, switch operating means comprising amember movable in opposite directions into positions respectivelyefiective for causing opening of said switch and enabling closing ofsaid switch and maintaining it closed, a shaft rotatable in oppositedirections and having driving connection to said member effective formoving the latter in opposite directions, drive means normally providingdriving connection between said motor and said shaft for continuouslydriving the latter in one direction for moving said member toward switchopening position, and setting means supplementary to said drive meansactuated responsive to insertion of a coin and having operativeconnection to said drive means for momentarily disabling said drivingconnection and rotating said shaft in the opposite direction apredetermined distance for each successively inserted coin.

HUGH R. SMI'I'H.

